This instrument from 24 April 1679 records the saisine drawn up by John Fishar (Fisher), portioner of Crounerland, represented by Alexander Anderson, on behalf of his wife, Margaret Whitlaw. Fisher assigns to her, on behalf of himself and heirs, a life rent from half of his property in Crounnerland, Barony of Manuel-foulis, for the rest of her life. The document, drafted by notary public "G. K." (Wililam Ker), details the locations, size, and types of land as well as what is on it, such as roads, grains, houses, a vicarage and its rent. Some of the land was formerly owned by Alexander Crawford and Robert Fisher; Agnes Fisher occupies a house on the property.
At bottom left, a brief text in English notes the registration in the book of sasines in Sterling, May 23, 16[7]9 by William Ker, notary in Linlithgow. This note includes the full title of the territory, the Sheriffdom of Sterling and Clackmannan and Stewardry of Monteith.
At bottom right, the Latin is a note by William Ker, that connects William Bell to the public instrument.
On verso: A description of the document with the date it was registered in the book of sasines.
Local Note
Donated by Patricia-Ann Lee, emerita professor of History, these legal documents, dating from the 16th-18th centuries and written on parchment and rag paper, record grants of property to individuals and groups in Great Britain.
Beginning in the fall of 2022, students from Jordana Dym’s “Archival Storytelling” class set out to transcribe this and other documents in the collection, learning Secretary Hand in the process, and have prepared updated cataloging information (now reflected in this record) in a process that is ongoing. Please visit Lost In Transcription, Found In Translation: Histories Of Inheritance In 17th Century Legal Documents for more information about their work.
